New program to determine reasons for declining enrollment at Pendleton schools

March 2, 20182:00 pm

PENDLETON, Oregon — A new program spearheaded by Pendleton School Superintendent Chris Fritsch will look at the declining student enrollment at Pendleton schools.

Intermountain ESD Superintendent Mark Mulvihill says he’s able to do that because of improvements in technology: “What Chris was demonstrating is the commitment and the data system to take a look at every student as an individual.”

Mulvihill says Pendleton is going farther than using new data though — officials are having what basically amounts as an exit interview with every family that leaves the school district. Officials want to know why families are leaving, whether it is to a neighboring district, moving out of state, or taking online classes. He says poverty is a big reason for declines and increases in enrollment, as parents must go where the jobs are.